Annunciation: 25 March

The Annunciation: what a feast! Some scholars believe we celebrate Christmas on 25 Christmas because early Christians counted forward nine months from today, 25 March.

Moreover, it seems the first Christians celebrated the Annunciation on 25 March not because our Lady had recorded the date and advised the Church accordingly, but because they believed 25 March is the anniversary of Christ’s death.

A pious Rabbinic tradition holds that by God’s providence, all the great figures and prophets of the Covenant — Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, etc. — died on the anniversary of their conception. Naturally enough, many Christians surmised Jesus would be similarly favoured.

So, there’s the logic of Christmas. If Jesus was crucified on 25 March, it follows that he was conceived on 25 March, and it follows (not quite as logically, but certainly very neatly) that he was born on 25 December.

1 Comment

Simon Hogan

Mar 25, 2014

March is wonderful time in the catholic Church I know it is lent but we still sing wonderful hymns and still celebrate big feast days in too! I was born on March 22nd and on that day we celebrate St. Patrick’s sister feast day! Today is Greece Indepence Day I wonder if it has anything to do with Holy Family! Well Yesterday was 175 years since words Happy Birthday were introduce to our english language! Keep Well from Simon the Pieman. Oh some tips very soon!